GEOL1340_Lab 8

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University of Texas, Arlington *

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1340

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Geology

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May 3, 2024

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docx

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4

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GEOL 1340 Name: ___________Moises Aguilar Martinez_____ Weather and Climate Lab 8 Due Date: Objectives The predominant storm systems of the middle and higher latitudes are extratropical cyclones characterized by low-pressure centers, fronts, and variable weather conditions about their centers. The counterclockwise and inward circulation of surface winds in Northern Hemisphere cyclones bring contrasting air masses together to form fronts, along which clouds and precipitation may develop. As cyclones travel along their track, they progress through a life cycle and localities they pass experience a sequential change in weather. Understanding the types of weather associated with typical extratropical cyclones aids in forecasting weather. After completing this investigation, you should be able to: •Describe the surface wind patterns and weather associated with a model extratropical cyclone. •Specify the type of weather associated with fronts rotating about an extratropical cyclone’s low-pressure center. •Compare and contrast the weather associated with cold fronts and warm fronts. •Describe the sequence of changes in weather on the warm, right side and the cold, left side of a Northern Hemisphere cyclone track. 1. Norwegian Cyclone Model (30 points) (see textbook Chapter 10., Section Extratropical Cyclone) a) Describe life cycle of an extratropical cyclone Extratropical cyclones are more often formed on land rather than on the water. Extratropical cyclones start usually with a slow rotation of clouds in the troposphere around a low- pressure system. Large bodies of water that contain warm and moist air create fronts that then cause a dry cold front. As the cyclone becomes more severe weather conditions get worse and the rotation becomes much faster. As the cyclone weakens so does the severe weather however this takes up almost a week for the cyclone to completely disappear. This process is caused by friction from the convergence that forces the raising pressure of the low- pressure system.
b) Describe the factors that lead to frontogenesis and frontolysis. Frontogenesis is the creation of a front that is mainly caused by warm and cold air converging which causes the horizontal temperature gradient to increase in temperature drastically. Frontolysis is known as the dissipation of a front. This can be caused by a difference in temperature between two air masses that make the front completely disappear. It also can be caused due to another air mass that pushes apart the first air masses that got together to create the front. 2. Warm and Cold Cyclone (20 points). What are some of the differences between a cold-core cyclone and a warm-core cyclone? Cold core cyclones do not have structural symmetry due to the cyclone's formation. This can resemble in a coma or slash, as well as a diagonal line that forms. Cold core cyclones experience fronts as well which is what causes the shape of the core of the cyclone to be impacted. With warm-core cyclones, there are no fronts formed due to advection. This means that there is no influence on the shape of the core as with cold core cyclones. Warn core cyclones do not have different wind speeds going vertically. Cold core cyclone winds are impacted by jets that move along various paths in the cyclones formation. 3. Blizzards (10 points) . Are all winter storms considered blizzards? Explain your answer. No, for a winter storm to be considered to be a blizzard there has to be continuous heavy winds that are strong enough to carry snow. There also has to exist very low visibility within the storm. 2
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